mount guidance needed

put in a whole new system in the 780....new coax(RG8X), going to new Wilson mount w/gumdrop base, secured to bird perch screwed into door, and topped with a 4' Wilson 2000. SWR's are reading 1.4 on external meter, power is 6 watts on cobra 29.
looking at my meter on the radio, the meter calibrates fine, shows the SWR's fine, but when I switch it to R/SF it goes up to around 5-7. disconnect the coax from the antennae, and it drops down to 0. connect new coax and I get same thing, (all this on ch. 1, 20, 40).

any ideas on what to look at first? I can still hear about 4-5 miles, but that meter is driving me nuts!

 

ok, so my RF is turned up all the way and the meter is at 5. ran a ground wire from the door to the cab and it lowered a bit. now here's the fun part....when I open my door, my rf meter goes from 5 down to 3.....WTF? antennae is at 45 degree angle. I'll try moving that nd report back.

oh yeah, the antennae is grounded to the base in case you're wondering.....back in a minute

 

not static....until I turn the squelch down. no, the meter just stays up there at about 3 on the RF scale. soooo..... I went and tried a new mount. still the same. put the Wilson back on, and still the same. but.... now when I dead key on ch 1. the meter starts at 1.2 before the dead key and goes to 3 during dead key. when I switch to ch 20, the meter starts at 3 and goes to 5. NOW the really weird thing is when I put my hand ANYWHERE near the mic cord before I dead key, the level on the meter drops down to 1. leaving me believe that there's maybe a short in the mic somewhere. as they don't have a decent mic in the truck stop, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to get another mic and see if that's the problem.

stay tuned for further developments.....

 

didn't use the factory mounts....used a bird perch screwed into the mirror mount on the drivers door and clamped the mount to that. I think the problem might be the mic. will know more tomorrow

 

took off the RK 56 which I've had for 10-12 yrs and put on my 'ol Wilson....guys in the truck stop said it was night and day. must be a short in the 56 somewhere